Waler bracket for concrete forms



Jan. 14, 1958 L. R. VINES 2,319,363

WALER BRACKET FOR CONCRETE FORMS Filed May 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z0[UR-Q g EIG 4l= INVENTOR.

EI|3 El Aemae/EV/hes if p r I Jan. 14, 1958 R. VINES 2,319,363

WALER BRACKET FOR CONCRETE FORMS Filed May 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

Le/m/e/ R. Vines United States 2,819,863 Patented Jan. 14, 1958 FiceWALER BRACKET FOR CONCRETE FORMS Lemuel R. Vines, Hayward, Calif.Application May 27, 1954, Serial No. 432,868 6 Claims. (Cl. 248-247) Theinvention relates to construction devices such as used in the erectionof concrete forms and more particularly to a bracket for supportingwalers in such forms The present application is a continuation-in-partof my copending applications, Serial No. 313,430, filed October 7, 1952,for Waler Bracket for Concrete Forms, now abandoned, and Serial No.398,497, filed December 16, 1953, for Support Bracket for Walers inConcrete Forms.

In the construction to which the present invention relates, the formconsists of spaced form walls positioned in parallel vertical planesbetween which the concrete is poured and which may be made up of plywoodor other form lumber secured as by nailing to exteriorly posi tionedvertically extending studs, commonly 2 x 4 1um ber, set edgewise to thewalls. Tie wires are usually used for retaining the walls againstspreading and these may extend horizontally through openings provided inthe walls for connection of their opposite outer ends to horizontallyextending reinforcing members or stringers, which are customarilymounted across and supported on the outer edge faces of the studs. Theselatter sup porting members or stringers are commonly referred to in theart as walers and are usually composed of 2" x 4" lumber set edgewise tothe studs across their outer faces. These walers are most commonlyarranged in pairs with some vertical spacing provided therebetween toreceive the outer ends of the tie wire which are fastened to the outerfaces of the walers by various adjustable securing means and wedges, asis well known in the art.

In the building of concrete forms, as above described, the studs areerected to provide a frame for the forms. Cleats are usually nailed tothe studs at the elevations desired for the walers and the latter aremounted upon the cleats and toe-nailed into the studs. The walers thusapplied provide supports over which the workmen cus tomarily climb andupon which they are supported either by standing on the walers or byscaffolding supported from the walers, in performing the variousrequired steps in the erection of the form.

The above described form and its method of construction have seriousdisadvantages, principal among which are the inadequacy of supportprovided by the cleats and toe-nailing of the walers, which constantlyendangers the lives and limbs of the workmen who are required to dependupon these walers for their support in scaling the form to effect itserection; the requirement of considerable labor, cleats, nails, andother materials, in effecting the laborious work of fastening the walersby nailing, as above noted, and the substantial labor required in thestripping of the form and splitting, mutilation, or other loss of theform lumber, resulting from the toe-nailing, etc.; and the deflection ofthe walers, by reason of the toe-nailing, from their desired horizontalline extension across the form for proper registration with the tiewires and consequent misalignment of the space between the walers withthe tie wire openings and bending of the tie wires.

. In accordance with the present invention and as a principal objectthereof, I have provided a bracket of the character described forconcrete forms of such improved form and constructions that it may bequickly and easily attached to the stud of the concrete form at theprecise elevation desired, and when so secured will afford an immediate,rigid, and locked mounting for the walers in a positive straight lineacross the form, and afford a perfectly safe and ample support for thewalers and superimposed weight of workmen standing or climbing hereon orof workmen on scaffolding suspended thererom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bracket of thecharacter described which may, with equal facility and with minimum oflabor, be removed from the studs in the stripping of the form withoutharm or multilation of the studs or walers, to permit thereby immediateand continued re-use of thesemembers as Well as the brackets themselvesand thus effect substantial savings in both labor and material in thebuilding and dismantling of the forms.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bracket of thecharacter above, which affords the use of positive, powerful andself-contained jaws means for firmly locking the bracket in position onthe stud of the form without the requirement of nailing or screwing ofthe bracket to the stud.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bracket ofthe character described, which is composed of a minimum number ofruggedly constructed parts adapted to withstand for a long and usefullife the hard usage which it may encounter in the construction industry.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a bracketof the character above which may be used with studs of various sizes andwithout requiring any adjustment of the bracket.

The invention has other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of the invention which is illustratedin the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. Itis to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made bysaid drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

Figure l is a side elevation of a waler bracket constructed inaccordance with the present invention and shown in operative walersupporting position with the supporting stud and walers in phantomlines.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the waler bracket illustrated in Figure1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, similar to Figure 1 but showing amodified form of the bracket.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the bracket illustrated in Figure3.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view, similar to Figure 1 but showing afurther modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the planeof line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 ofFigure 5.

The waler bracket 11 of the present invention 'here preferably consistsof a fiat plate-like member adapted for mounting against and securing tothe side 12 of a rectangular wooden stud 13, the member being formedwith offset means 14 and 15 arranged to engage the outer face 16 of thestud with a first portion 17 of the member positioned against the studside 12 and with a second portion, here consisting of spaced parallelarms 18, 19 and 20, which project outwardly from the face 16 for thesupport of a pair of walers 26 and 27. As will be best seen from Figurel, the arms 18, 19 and 20 provide a pair of vertically spacedhorizontally extending slots 28 and 29, which are preferably ofrectangular form adapted to receive walers of a 2" x 4" construction andto hold such walers firmly against twisting action. To complete thegeneral combination and as an important feature of the presentinvention, means 31 is provided at the outer extremity of one or more ofthe arms 18 to 29 for closing off the slots for retaining the walers 26and 27 therein.

As will be observed from Figure 1, the bracket 11 is generally ofE-shape having a generally planar portion 17 adapted for mountingagainst the side 12 of the stud, with the three spaced arms 18, 19 and2t) projecting perpendicularly therefrom to define the E and the slottedportions 28 and 29 above described, it being further noted in thisconnection that the center arm 19 is located between and functions as aseparator or spacer for the walers 26 and 27.

As a nice feature of the present invention, and serving the interest ofstrength and economical use of material, the offset means 14 and herepreferably consist of a pair of tongues which may be pressed out fromthe slotted areas 28 and 29 so as to extend generally perpendicular tothe plane of the member for engagement with the outer stud face 16.Securing of the bracket to the stud side is, in the preferred form ofthe invention, elfected by nailing, and for this purpose the portion 17of the bracket is provided with perforations 35 for receipt of nails 36.The latter are preferably of double headed form, as commonly used inconstruction, so as to facilitate their removal.

The means 31 for closing off of the outer sides of slots 28 and 29consists in the preferred form of the invention, as illustrated inFigures 1 and 2, of a wedge shaped member which is mounted forreciprocation on one of the arms 18 to for engagement with the outerfaces 37 and 38 of the walers for urging the walers at their oppositeinner faces 39 and 40 against the outer stud face 16. Preferably, thecenter arm 19 is extended outwardly somewhat beyond the outer ends ofarms 18 and 20 and is provided with a stop means 46, here in the form ofa pin arranged for cooperation with a relatively inclined face 47 of thewedge member, so as to urge its opposite inclined face 48 against theouter faces 37 and 38 of the walers upon relative movement of the Wedgewith respect to the arm 19' and stop means 46. The wedge 31 is hereillustrated of conventional form, having a longitudinal center slot 49adapted to straddle arm 19, and being formed with enlarged opening 50 atone end for movement into registration with the cross pin 46 so as toeffect mounting of the wedge onto the arm and removal of the wedge fromthe arm.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 ofthe drawings, wherein the means for retaining the walers within theslotted portions 28a and 29a here consists of sockets 56, 57 and 58provided at the outer ends of arms 18a, 19a and 20a and arranged forreceipt of pin means, such as the common nail 59, here illustrated forextending across the outer extremities of the slots for retaining thewalers 26a and 27a. The sockets 56, 57 and 58 may be provided bystriking out from the slotted areas flange portions to extendperpendicular to the plane of arms 18a to 20a and perforating suchflange portions to provide co-axial eyelets 60, 61 and 62 for thereceipt of a nail or the like, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

A further modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 5, 6and 7 of the drawings, wherein means for fastening the bracket to thestud consists of a sharpened lug 71 mounted for reciprocation on themember 1317 for driving into side 12]) of the stud, and which cooperateswith the offset means or tongues 14b and 15b to fasten the member on thestud. For further amplification of the structural features and importantadvantages of this form of fastening means, reference is made to mycopending application Serial No. 398,497 aforesaid. Preferably and ashere shown, the lug 71. is provided at the end of an arm 72 having apivotal connection 73 to the member 13b, so as to swing in a planeperpendicular thereto. 1' he pivotal connection is here convenientlyformed by mounting the arm 72 ebtween a pair of opposed horizontallyextending flanges 74 and 75, pressed out from the slotted areas 28b and29b into parallel planes perpendicular to the plane of the portion 13b,and the connection is efiected by a pivot pin mounted throughregistering openings in the flanges and the arm.

As an important feature of this construction, the lug is formed ofcurved hook shape in the plane of rotation, as shown in Figure 7, so asto most efiectively enter, penetrate and interlock. with the stud.Preferably, the outer extremity 76 of the lug that is most remote fromthe pivot 73 is here curved on an are about the pin as a center, and theopposite inner extremity 77 of the lug is tapered toward the side 76 soas to define a leading point 78 for the lug. As will be understood, thearcuate form of the outer edge 76 of the lug swinging about the pivot 73provides a hook action in the penetration of the lug into the woodfibers of the stud, thus obtaining a selflocking action necessitatingthe shearing of wood fibers to remove the bracket when the lug is indriven position. At the same time, the wedge form of the lug draws theoffset means 14b and 15b tightly against the outer face 16b of the stud.

As a further precaution, means is provided for positively locking thearm 72 against retracting movement of the lug 71 when the latter isdriven home into the stud as above described. As here shown, such meansconsists of a pin, such as a common nail, which may be dropped throughregistering openings 81 provided in the flanges 74 and 75, in positionto engage behind the rear edge 82 of the arm when the lug 71 is drivenhome into the stud, so as to prevent thereby a retracting movement ofthe arm. As will also be best seen from Figure 7 the arm 72 is pivotedintermediate its ends upon pin 73 to provide a lever action with thesharpened lug 71 at one end 83 of the lever, with the opposite end 86 ofthe lever extending from the pivotal connection in spaced relation tothe bracket to permit swinging of such end to and from the bracket uponreciprocation of the lug from and into the stud. Preferably, both endsare formed with striking heads 84 and 85, adapted for being struck witha hammer or the like, the head 84 being used to drive the lug 71 intothe stud, and the head 85 being used to drive the lever in an oppositedirection to retract the lug from the stud.

In applying the bracket of the present invention, the member 11 is heldat precise elevation desired on the stud with the flat portion 17pressed against the side 12 of the stud and with the tongues 14 and 15engaged with the outer stud face 16. In this position, the bracket maybe easily and quickly nailed to the stud, preferably using double headednails, as illustrated, to facilitatesubsequent removal of the bracket;or, in the case of the modified form as illustrated in Figures 5 through7, the head 84 is struck with a hammer or the like so as to embed thelug 71 into the stud, after which a nail may be dropped through openings81 to hold the lug in place. The walers 26 and 27 may then be insertedinto the slotted portions 28 and 29 with the arm 19 positioned betweenthe walers to provide a desired spacing for the accommodation of theform tie wires. The wedge 31 may then be dropped in place and tappedlightly with a hammer so as to firm up the assembly. In the modifiedform of the bracket, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, a nail 59 may bedropped through eyelets 60 and 61 as illustrated. The walers will thusbe firmly secured in place across the outer faces of the studs inprecise registration with the tie wire openings previously drilled inthe form wall.

To dismantle the form, it isonly necessary to reverse the aboveoperations. In the forms illustrated in Figures 1 through 4, the wedge31 or the nail 59 (as the case may be) is removed and the nails driventhrough openings 35 are withdrawn. In the modified form illustrated inFigures 5 through 7, the nail or pin is removed from opening 81 and thehead 85 is struck with a hammer so as to withdraw the lug instantly fromits embedded position in the stud. In either instance, the dismantlingof the form is accomplished without harm or mutilation of the members sothat they may be immediately and repeatedly reused with subsequentsaving of time, labor and material.

I claim:

1. A waler bracket for concrete forms comprising, a member adapted formounting against and securing to the side of a rectangular wooden studand having three spaced and substantially parallel arms extending froman edge of said member for projection horizontally outwardly from theouter face of said stud and with said arms vertically superimposed so asto define with said edge a pair of compartments open at their outersides at the ends of said arms and being dimensioned for receipt of apair of vertically superimposed walers, the lower of said arms beingdimensioned to underlie and support the lower of said walers, the middlearm being dimensioned to underlie and support the upper of said walersin vertically spaced relation to the lower waler, the upper of said armsbeing dimensioned to overlie said upper waler and to cooperate with saidlower arm to lock said walers against relative vertical deflection, saidmember being provided with an offset portion spaced inwardly from saidedge and positioned to engage said stud face with said member edgespaced from and exposing said stud face in said compartments to definethe inner boundaries thereof, and means carried by one of said arms andengageable with the outer faces of said walers for compressivelysecuring said walers against said stud face.

2. A waler bracket as characterized in claim 1 wherein said member isformed from metal plate and said ofiset portion is composed of a pair oftongues bent from the metal of said lower and upper arms and extendingthererfom substantially perpendicular to the plane of said member.

3. A waler bracket for concrete forms comprising, a flat plate-likemember adapted for mounting against and securing to the side of arectangular wooden stud and having three spaced and substantiallyparallel arms extending from an edge of said member for projectionhorizontally outwardly from the outer face of said stud and with saidarms vertically superimposed so as to define with said edge a pair ofcompartments open at their outer sides at the ends of said arms andbeing dimensioned for receipt of a pair of vertically superimposedwalers, the lower of said arms being dimensioned to underlie and supportthe lower of said walers, the middle arm being dimensioned to underlieand support the upper of said walers in vertically spaced relation tothe lower waler, the upper of said arms being dimensioned to overliesaid upper waler and to cooperate with said lower arm to lock saidwalers against relative vertical deflection, said member being providedwith an offset portion spaced inwardly from said edge and positioned toengage said stud face with said member edge spaced from and exposingsaid stud face in said compartments to define the inner boundariesthereof, and a wedge-shaped member mounted for reciprocation on saidmiddle arm for engagement with the outer faces of said walers forcompressively securing said walers against said stud face.

4. A waler bracket as characterized in claim 3 wherein said middle armis of flat elongated form, a cross-pin carried by said middle arm at theouter end thereof, said wedge member being of elongated form and havingan elongated center slot mounted on said middle arm and being retainedthereby for reciprocation in the plane of '6 said first named member,said wedge member having an inclined face 'engageable with said pin forurging said wedge memberagainst walers when said wedge member isdisplaced in a normally downward direction on said middle arm.

5. A.waler bracket for concrete forms comprising, a flat plate-likemember adapted for mounting against the side of a rectangular woodenstud and having three spaced and substantially parallel arms extendingfrom an edge of said memberfor projection horizontally outwardly fromthe outer face of said stud and with said arms vertically superimposedso as to define with said edge a pair of compartments open at theirouter sides at the ends of said arms and being dimensioned for receiptof a pair of vertically superimposed walers, the lower of said armsbeing dimensioned to underlie and support the lower of said walers, themiddle arm being dimensioned to underlie and support the upper of saidwalers in vertically spaced relation to the lower waler, the upper ofsaid arms being dimensioned to overlie said upper waler and to cooperatewith said lower arm to lock said walers against relative verticaldeflection, said member being provided with an offset portion spacedinwardly from said edge and positioned to engage said stud face withsaid member edge spaced from and exposing said stud face in saidcompartments to define the inner boundaries thereof, means carried byone of said arms and engageable with the outer faces of said walers forcompressively securing said walers against said stud face, and a leverhaving a pivotal connection intermediate its ends to said member toswing in a plane perpendicular thereto and having a sharpened lug at oneend formed for driving into said stud side and cooperating with saidoffset portion to fasten said member to said stud, the opposite end ofsaid lever extending from said pivotal connection in spaced relation tosaid member to permit swinging to and from said member and being formedfor striking to withdraw said sharpened lug from said stud.

6. A waler bracket for concrete forms comprising, a flat plate-likemember adapted for mounting against and securing to the side of arectangular wooden stud and having three spaced and substantiallyparallel arms extending from an edge of said member for projectionhorizontally outwardly from the outer face of said stud and with saidarms vertically superimposed so as to define with said edge a pair ofcompartments open at their outer sides at the ends of said arms andbeing dimensioned for receipt of a pair of vertically superimposedwalers, the lower of said arms being dimensioned to underlie and supportthe lower of said walers, the middle arm being dimensioned to underlieand support the upper of said walers in vertically spaced relation tothe lower waler, the upper of said arms being dimensioned to overliesaid upper waler and to cooperate with said lower arm to lock saidwalers against relative vertical deflection, said member being providedwith an offset portion spaced inwardly from said edge and positioned toengage said stud face with said member edge spaced from and exposingsaid stud face in said compartments to define the inner boundariesthereof, means carried by one of said arms and engageable with the outerfaces of said walers for compressively securing said walers against saidstud face, a pair of flanges pressed out from said member on oppositesides of said middle arm and extending substantially perpendicular tosaid member, and a lever mounted between said flanges and having apivotal connection intermediate its ends to said flanges for swinging ina plane perpendicular to said member and having a sharpened lug at oneend formed for driving into said stud side and cooperating with saidoffset portion to fasten said member to said stud, the opposite end ofsaid lever extending from said pivotal connection in spaced relation tosaid member to permit swinging to and from said member and being formedfor striking to 1,875,366 Beghetti Sept. 6, 1932 withdraw said sharpenedlug from said stud. 2,236,616 Bosco Apr. 1, 1941 2,330,990 Neptune Oct.5, 1943 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,452,203 LuppinoOct. 26, 1948 UNITED 5 2,711,002 Dahlstrom June 21,

1,554,029 Pulis Sept. 15, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,649,355 Lindsay et a1.Nov. 15, 1927 661,705 Germany June 24, 1938 1,680,923 Williams Aug. 14,1928 666,476 Great Britain Feb. 13, 1952

